Catonsville running back DeAndre Lane discusses his Terps pledge

Baltimore Sun photo by Lloyd Fox

Baltimore Sun photo by Lloyd Fox

Everett CookThe Baltimore Sun

DeAndre Lane didn’t want a lengthy, drawn-out recruiting process to decide where he would play college football. The months of waiting and deliberating that come with most recruiting decisions? Not for Lane.

The class of 2013 running back — who is seen as a versatile athlete more than a traditional running back at the next level — waited for his first college offer and pounced, committing to Maryland on Sunday night.

“I knew I wanted to go to Maryland for a long time,” said Lane, a rising senior from Catonsville. “They were talking to me, and then we stopped talking for about a month so I didn’t know what was going to happen, but I committed as soon as they offered.”

Lane’s decision marks the fifth local commitment for coach Randy Edsall in the past three days, one of the biggest recruiting hauls in the program's recent history. Even with a disappointing 2-10 2011 campaign on the minds of potential recruits, the Terps have seemed to turn the corner in recruiting — especially for regional players like Lane who have been following Maryland football for years and aren’t as concerned with last season’s record.

“They have been recruiting a lot of local kids from around the area, and I like being part of a local movement,” Lane said. “They made it feel like a family atmosphere for me.”

In his junior season at Catonsville, Lane rushed for 21 touchdowns and more than 1,700 yards, including a game against Hereford where he gained 201 yards on 10 carries and three touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a touchdown to help the Comets beat the Bulls for the first time in 16 years.

A standout in track, Lane credits his success to 4.4 40-yard dash speed that put him on Maryland’s radar. At this point, Lane’s 5-foot-8, 170-pound frame is his biggest hindrance. His speed could translate to the next level, but his size probably won’t, which is why Lane cites getting bigger as his most important pre-college need.

“They like that even though I’m small, I play with a big heart,” Lane said.

Lane said Maryland wants to use him out of the backfield initially, but he could also end up playing slot receiver to maximize his speed in the open field.